Wayne Rooney must play lead role for England against San Marino to prove he is worthy of wearing armband

The most precious piece of apparel in English sport is tonight wrapped around
the bulging left bicep of the most talented, if controversial, footballer
eligible to pull on the shirt with Three Lions on it.

Keeping balanced: Wayne Rooney trains with the England squad ahead of the San Marino clashPhoto: PA

Wayne Rooney captains England for the first time in a competitive match, if a match against San Marino can truly be called competitive, promising that he has “matured”, that the red mist and red card against Montenegro last year “will never happen again”.

This has been a week of new hope and old problems, of the opening of St George’s Park and the wearyingly familiar debate about English stars’ standards of behaviour. Ryan Bertrand, the likeable Chelsea youngster, needlessly lobbed some fuel on the fire yesterday with an ill-judged, if largely inoffensive tweet about whether he had a sore throat or not. Only in the soap-opera world of England could medical updates risk Football Association sanction.

Roy Hodgson was in forgiving mood towards one of his new troops, saving private Ryan’s blushes, but it was another reminder of the flawed nature of the modern English footballer. Rooney is the poster-boy of that movement, a wonderfully cool and composed manipulator of a ball around the opposition half but occasionally hot-headed.

And now he is the team leader, the role model in chief. In the absence of the suspended Steven Gerrard, the injured Frank Lampard (and do not mention the retired John Terry), Joe Hart was a contender but this will be Rooney’s 77th appearance.

“He deserves the chance,’’ said Hodgson. Opportunity knocks. Whisper it softly but this is an audition for Rooney.

If Gerrard retires after this 2014 World Cup cycle (aged 34), his fellow-Merseysider will be favourite for the armband. Rooney spoke of being motivated by Gerrard’s strengths.

“It’s his determination,’’ said Rooney. “Growing up, I saw his passion and desire to play for Liverpool and England is fantastic. He’s certainly been an inspiration in my career.”

It was another warrior, one of Manchester United’s most combative, that most stirred Rooney. “Roy Keane, without doubt,’’ replied Rooney, discussing the captain he most admired. “I was lucky enough to play with him and hope I can gain some of his qualities. He was a great captain: vocal on the pitch and he really helped me off it.’’ He received some of the Irishman’s legendary ear-bashings. “I had a few off him. We had a few debates. Sometimes when you want to win, it’s not always sitting down and talking quietly. You have a go at each other purely to get the best out of each other. He wasn’t afraid to tell everybody how he wanted them to perform. He just wanted to win.

“He was one of the best players in Premier League history and Manchester United history so I fully respected him. He was the type of player I like: when he had a go at you, I wanted to show what I can do. I wasn’t fearful of him. It was his desire and passion.”

Rooney wants to bring that desire and passion to his temporary acquaintance with the captaincy - Gerrard returns against Poland on Tuesday. Controversies as much as injuries and suspensions have dictated the ownership of the armband. Rooney has captained England once before, the friendly loss to Brazil in Doha on Nov 14, 2009. In the 32 games since, including tonight, the armband has gone: Gerrard, Ferdinand, Ferdinand, Gerrard, Gerrard, Gerrard, Gerrard, Gerrard, Gerrard, Gerrard, Ferdinand, Ferdinand, Lampard, Terry, Barry, Terry, Terry, Terry, Terry, Lampard, Terry, Parker, Gerrard, Gerrard, Gerrard, Gerrard, Gerrard, Gerrard, Lampard, Gerrard, Gerrard and now Rooney again.

Hodgson’s predecessor, Fabio Capello, could never understand the English obsession with the armband. In his native Italy, as Capello would laboriously intone every time the captaincy changed hands, the honour simply goes to the most-capped player. But it is a huge issue in England.

“We go back to Bobby Moore, at least I do, or Billy Wright even,’’ reflected Hodgson. “It’s part of the English culture. Maybe that’s not always the case in other countries. Maybe it’s a fundamental part of our football culture. The person we chose to be our captain has iconic status.” Hodgson had thought about the pressure on Rooney, on whether the “iconic status” might distract England’s most creative force from his primary role of dismantling the defence of a country so far down the sponsored Fifa rankings that the Coca-Cola must be flat.

“When we went out in the Euros to Italy, the expectations on Wayne and Steven are a bit higher than some of the guys playing their third, fourth or fifth game,’’ continued Hodgson. “But I had no hesitation thinking Steven could handle it. I have no hesitation the same with Wayne. It’s something they have to live with as a top player. It’s a cross you have to bear.’’ Rooney understood the weight of office. “It’s a great responsibility,’’ he agreed. “But I tend to play with determination which I hope can lift the players and the fans.”

Such determination can descend into frustration. Rooney kicked out at the Montenegrin centre-half, Miodrag Dzudovic, in Podgorica a year ago. “I regretted it as soon as I’d done it,’’ Rooney acknowledged. “I can tell you now that it won’t be happening again, that’s for sure. If you saw my performances after that, at club level, you saw a different person. I cut out a lot of the silly tackles and silly mistakes I made as a young lad.”

Since his expulsion in Podgorica, Rooney has received only a solitary yellow - against Swansea City - in 44 games for club and country. That is disciplined.

Rooney needs a good display tonight. He needs to look like a leader if his case for the captaincy post-Gerrard is to be enhanced. He needs a goal, as remarkably for someone who has scored 29 times for England, his record is poor in recent years. He needs to entrance a sell-out crowd.

Rooney has enjoyed a mercurial relationship with England fans, switching between hero and villain. The nadir came in the 2010 World Cup when he lambasted fans unhappy with a terrible performance against Algeria in Cape Town. “It’s nice to see your own fans booing you,” he mocked. “We’ve got loyal supporters.”

Realism and contrition shaped his words yesterday. “I was probably looking for a way to justify my own performance,’’ he said. “I’ve matured.’’